Tea tree oil is an excellent thing to own.
Out of all the essential oils, this one seems to kill mold like no other. This is something I saw firsthand, when I tackled some bathroom mold that was growing behind my bathroom sink.
This aromatic cut straight through it.
Tea tree can also be used medicinally. For thousands of years, as reported elsewhere, native Australians would grind up the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia tree, where tea tree is derived. These leaves would then be used to dress skin wounds. We now know that pure tea tree oil contains compounds that likely fight infections.
Some people use diluted tea tree oil to fight acne. It can also be used as a chest massage when you have a cold, or are hoping to relieve chest congestion. (Just make sure to put it in a carrier oil first. Also, if you’re using it on your face for the first time, make sure to do a 24-hour test patch on your arm.)
If you’re rather inhale tea tree, you can also put 10 drops in a cold-air diffuser filled with water.
This essential oil is also great for healing unsightly toenail fungus. But you’ll probably have to apply it regularly for several months before you see results.
Tea tree oil was one of the first aromatic oils I learned about. I started hearing a lot about it because it’s widely promoted by independent distributors who work for one of two large multi-level marketing companies that sell essential oils.
For a long time, I labored under the impression that you had to buy an MLM oil if you wanted a high-quality product. However, after a lot of research, I realized that you don’t. So I now buy different brands, from companies I know have strict standards on purity and potency. Perfectly good products exist outside of these networks.
Actually, out of all the oils I use, tea tree is the one I’m least likely to spend a lot of money on. (It’s not a precious oil anyway, and is readily available.) That’s because one of its main uses is for cleaning up mold-infested areas. Trust me, this black slime doesn’t care about name recognition. I’ve also used a little-known label, with excellent results.
Where Do I Buy Tea Tree Oil?
If you’re looking for an all-around good tea tree oil, which you can use for personal care as well as housecleaning, I can recommend several brands. One of my favorites, though, is Plant Therapy. (This was not the little-known label I used to clean my bathroom mold. Actually, Plant Therapy is a recognized aromatherapy brand.)
Plant Therapy oils undergo extensive testing, including a quality control check by an independent lab. They are derived from plants that are grown without pesticides or other chemicals. Nothing else is added during the processing. This company has also retained world-famous aromatherapy expert Robert Tisserand as a consultant for one of its product lines.
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Tea Tree Oil for Cleaning
When using tea tree oil solely for cleaning, you can mix it with water in a spray bottle. This is a very strong oil, with a lingering smell, so you’ll want to use it diluted. This will also make your bottle of oil last longer.
Plant Therapy sells tea tree in 30 ml and 10 ml sizes, which is the one shown above. Unless you plan to use it a lot, you probably just need the smaller size.
Disclaimer
These statements have not been approved by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. People with health concerns should discuss them with a doctor. Women who are pregnant or nursing should not use essential oils, unless under the direction of a healthcare professional.
I’m not a healthcare professional, so all of the above statements are my personal opinion, and are not intended as medical advice.
For Additional Reading
Best Essential Oil to Kill Mold
Essential Oils Good for Toenail Fungus